Came scross the below post and thought it’s worth sharing. To me, it addresses self compassion which is a precondition for compassion towards others.
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It’s okay to cancel a commitment.
It’s okay to not answer a call.
It’s okay to change your mind.
It’s okay to want to be alone.
It’s okay to take a day off.
It’s okay to do nothing.
It’s okay to speak up.
It’s okay to let go.
Note: This post was republished with permission from tinybuddha.com. You can find the original post here.
Falling unintentionally – the reality hit that I’m not in control.
At least, not in that moment.
Arms reaching desperately to the nearest object, person, wall,
or whatever I could grab to save my life.
A hopeless and helpless sensation washed over me.
The thought that I lost control hurt long past the physical pain.
How much are we really in control?
Time drags on painfully slow, seems to stood still.
When will this end?
Whether in a dentist chair, a boring lecture, or an unhealthy relationship,
the feeling is never pleasant.
But here is what can make a difference,
instead of waiting, how about changing what we can,
being curious, discovering something new?
Then it will be over before you know it.
How can we be proactive?
The writing is on the wall: climate change is here to stay. Last month was the hottest month on record. An headline unfortunately is becoming all too common. Pretty soon it will be the hottest year (in 12 consecutive months) on record.
Not a doomsdayer, I believe we’re not at the point of no return. Rather, the 2015 Paris Agreement’s target to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius has become unfeasible. But we do have choices to right the future.
For one, minimizing our greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and others) will reduce the global warming. Even though, the Paris Agreement goal has not materialized, its target is still worthwhile to work toward.
If you feel like to get involved, there are many opportunities available. My suggestions are: 1) stay informed and support clean initiatives, 2) be an advocate for protecting our planet, and 3) start spreading the news. It’s not too late.
What can you do to reduce the greenhouse gases?
Writing is organized thinking on behalf of persuasion. ~ Seth Godin
I blog daily. So Godin’s point about writing hits home with me.
The process roughly goes like this: first was an idea – something caught my attention that I want to write about. Followed by, how to develop and order the thought so it is clear to my eyes, and hopefully the same to others. It takes several iterations of writing, revising, and editing.
And to the point of persuasion – all writings is persuasion to certain degree. Even though I blog for no specific audiences, I’m encouraged by those who share my points. When they like my post, leave comment, eureka! We have connected on some level. It certainly persuades me to continue writing.
Which parts of writing do you enjoy?
Part 1, here.
Living this day as if it’s your last sounds great except when it’s not. Imaging if you spent everything today, what would you do tomorrow? Stay home and suck on your thumb?
Don’t get me wrong, I do get the idea of seizing the day. Do the important stuff, and not procrastinate. The trouble is we can’t be full up & all out on every day. We will quickly run out of steam. Just like running a marathon, pacing yourself is key to finish the race.
So, life’s wisdom comes with a caveat: each person must weigh their circumstance and take the “wisdom” with a grain of salt. Same for the “living this day.” Even faced with terminal illness, we still need to exercise prudence and avoid abandonment.
After all, life is precious.
How do you balance priorities with considerations?
Campus protests on the war in Gaza are spreading across the country. Given it’s a presidential election year and time close to graduation commencement, will these events sway the public opinion, change the establishment from backing Israel, or accelerate the ceasefire negotiation between Israel and Hamas? While this may be how democracy works, infant and toddler are being killed in the Gaza.
Sentiments between the two sides run deep, and their positions are far apart. Thus, an international team from Qatar, Egypt, US, in addition to the Hamas and Israel, are working on the truce deal. Will this diversity of negotiators bring a successful outcome? Got my fingers crossed there.
And six months to the US general election, election workers from coast to coast are engaged in the voting process. Candidates are vying to be liked in the short time left. From the weather which plays a factor in the voter turnout, anything can happen. If I were a candidate. for sure more sleepless night ahead.
Stay safe & have a nice week.
You see them at the polling places dudring elections. They greet you and provide ballot for you to cast your votes. And I’m one of those workers. Whenever I work at the polling center, my wife is amazed why I do it time after time.
After all, the hours are long (6Am to 10 PM), the process is repetitive (following explicit guidelines), with little flexibility. For example, no cell phone use inside the polling center, no talk of politics, and no say in workload. People vote at their convenience, either before they go to work, during lunch break, or on their way home.
So why would I do it? Good question. And I will give a shot in answering it.
Besides receiving a modest stipend, I work as part of a team to assist voters in achieving a fair and equitable election. When successful, the reward is satisfying and impacts local community. Because the down-ballot candidates could include positions such as school board, judges, and sheriff, etc. that affect our lives directly.
What better way to participate than a hands-on involvement? It boosts my confidence in our electoral system.
What do you know about the election workers in the polling places?
Ingrained in our psyche is this idea of acceptance by others. We’re social beings. As such being members of any group, we have strong desire to be liked by others. It’s scripted in us early in life. Family, friends, school, work., etc. . . All good.
Except when it doesn’t. When conflict arises with others, we face a choice: how much should we stand firm versus give-in and conform to others? The choice is not always simple. The scripting, peer pressure, and self-integrity all play a part. Is to be liked by others outweighing to be liked by oneself?
Ultimately, we must face the persons in the mirror. The path of getting there is paved with decisions we made based on the subject matter, its significance, and consequences. Occasionally, we make mistakes, but at the end of the day it is us who has to live with our choice.
Do you like who you are, what you do, and the decision you make?
If workforce diversity helps boost company profits, why don’t more of them do it?
One possibility is the fear that diversity will bring difference which generates conflict, disagreement, and loss of productivity. To get to synergy is almost out of the question.
“Almost” because it requires us to 1) view the difference as creative tension, 2) provide space & time for reconciliation, and 3) shun the easy way out with compromise. Instead, we search for a transcending 3rd alternative. That takes efforts.
With people similar to us, shared values and customs are easier. Cooperation rather than tension is assumed. Whereas one must try harder to reach common grounds with people of diversity backgrounds. Hence, a necessity for creative tension.
Being open minded is a pre-condition. But contextually, the difference needs space and time to gel. Common practices of teambuilding, collaboration, and mutual support do not happen in a pressure cooker situation.
Often, people reach for compromise as an expedient solution. While there is nothing wrong with such approach when the respective integrities are not threatened, a synergistic solution is superior in that a true win-win that benefits all involved.
Thus, if we confront our fears and capitalize on the difference that diversity brings, getting to synergy is achievable. Only a selected few understand the value chain. and that is why they are profitable.
Do you believe that synergy empowers?
Running with Buddha 